Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 69: Once Again, the Number One in the World (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

After leaving the temple, Qin Xiu returned to the courtyard where she lived.

The courtyard was quiet, and the silver bells under the eaves tinkled softly as the breeze blew through the courtyard.

She pushed open the door to the main hall and saw Wu Qingyuan sitting in a chair, holding a cup of tea. He suddenly raised his head, his gaze cold.

That look startled Qin Xiu.

She quickly composed herself and said softly, "My lord, what's wrong? Did someone upset you?"

Wu Qingyuan did not reply.

He gently set down his teacup, the bottom of which tapped softly on the wooden table. Then he raised his right hand and casually waved it.

"Bang--"

The two wooden doors of the main hall closed with a click.

Qin Xiu's heart skipped a beat.

She glanced back instinctively at the closed door, and when she turned back, her pupils suddenly contracted—

Wu Qingyuan was no longer in the chair, but standing in front of her, so close that his face was almost touching hers.

He was staring at her with a gloomy gaze.

"ah--"

Qin Xiu cried out in surprise, staggering backward, her knee hitting the chair leg behind her, almost causing her to fall. She frantically grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself, her voice filled with suppressed panic: "My lord... what are you doing?"

Wu Qingyuan lowered his head slightly, looking down at Qin Xiu, and slowly said, "I never expected that I would reveal a flaw in someone as worthless as you."

Qin Xiu was greatly alarmed, but she still forced herself to remain calm and said, "My lord, I... I don't know what you're talking about. Didn't you go to see Chief Kong? Did you listen to someone's slanderous words?"

"Stop pretending," Wu Qingyuan said. "I was listening outside when you were complaining to Mu Jianjia."

Qin Xiu's body stiffened abruptly. "Impossible...no one can get close to the sect leader without her noticing."

Wu Qingyuan said coldly, "What is Mu Jianjia? If she weren't the sect leader, I could kill her with a flick of my wrist. What ability does she have to detect me?"

Qin Xiu's breathing quickened, her chest heaving. She stared intently at the familiar face before her, her voice trembling: "You're not Wu Qingyuan, who are you?"

Wu Qingyuan did not answer.

He tilted his head slightly, as if to stretch his neck.

then,

Qin Xiu witnessed a horrifying scene.

Wu Qingyuan's face began to change.

The young and handsome face contorted for a moment, as if his features were being kneaded and pulled by an invisible hand.

The bones beneath the skin were moving, making a series of soft crackling sounds, like dry firewood exploding in a fire. The once full cheeks quickly sunken, the cheekbones became high, the eye sockets became deep, and wrinkles spread like ravines from the corners of the eyes to the jaw.

His body shape is also changing.

His once robust and upright body began to hunch over, his back bent, his shoulder blades spread apart, and the skin on his neck drooped loosely, revealing bluish-gray veins.

In just a few breaths, the man standing in front of Qin Xiu was no longer the young and strong Wu Qingyuan, but a hunched old man with a full head of white hair and a withered face.

His murky, sinister eyes remained fixed on Qin Xiu.

Qin Xiu's pupils suddenly dilated to their maximum size, a chill running from her feet to the top of her head, instantly engulfing her entire body. Her lips trembled violently, her whole body shaking as if she had been thrown into an ice cave.

"Father...father..." her voice seemed to be squeezed out of her throat, "Father...you're not dead..."

This hunched old man was none other than Wu Tongtian, the Miao King who had recently passed away.

Wu Tongtian bent down slightly, extended his hand covered with age spots and blue veins, and pinched Qin Xiu's chin with his withered fingers.

The cold, rough touch froze Qin Xiu in place, her breath seemingly stopping.

"In this world," his voice was hoarse, with a deep, muffled quality, "no one can kill me. I don't want to die, so I won't die."

If it weren't for my plan, Mu Jianjia would be my plaything by now. You two, known as the Two Beauties of Miao Territory, should both serve me.

Qin Xiu was trembling all over, stammering, "You...you haven't been replaced at all? You've been forcing me all along...I'm your daughter-in-law..."

"You don't understand." Wu Tongtian released Qin Xiu's chin, his withered fingers gently tracing her cheek. "I've become young again, this youthful body feels wonderful. And in my youth, only a beauty like you is worthy of my favor."

Qin Xiu curled up in the chair, her hands gripping her clothes tightly, and demanded, "What...what are you going to do? Aren't you being controlled by Saintess Duoyu? Why...why..."

Wu Tongtian slowly straightened up. At that moment, his body once again made a "crackling" sound as his bones snapped. His face and body changed again, transforming into the appearance of Wu Qingyuan.

"Duoyu? I've always been the one controlling her," Wu Tongtian said. "Back then, she suffered the torture of being devoured by ten thousand snakes. She used the Divine Skill of Life and Death Zen to save her life. Over the years, she has been secretly working for me."

However, this woman is truly hopeless. All the resources I've invested in her over the years have been wasted. I even wanted to give her the Nirvana Gu to help her break through and become a sharp weapon in my hands, but she couldn't even handle Gu Guanqi, which almost caused me to be exposed.

However, she was loyal enough not to expose me. Fortunately, I was vigilant enough to direct her from behind the scenes, so even Gong Yang, Guang Wu, and others whom I controlled as puppets were unaware of my existence.

Qin Xiu said, "So, when you fought with the sect leader, you deliberately fell into the insect pit to escape?"

"That's right," Wu Tongtian said. "I had prepared a corpse in the insect cave long ago. After I fell in, I left through the passage I had prepared for myself, then reverted to my aged state and hid in the secret chamber, waiting to be rescued."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Qin Xiu asked.

"What are you doing?" Wu Tongtian said in a deep voice, "Do you know that for thirty years, I have cultivated the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill for a full thirty years? Half a year ago, when I was about to burn out, I finally achieved perfection and became the number one in the world!"

Wu Tongtian patted his chest and said, "I, Wu Tongtian, am the best in the world. What do you think I want to do? Of course, I want to unify the martial arts world and change the dynasty. Otherwise, how can I live up to my title of the best martial arts in the world?"

However, these good-for-nothings from Miao territory are all content to live in their own little corner and have no ambition whatsoever. And this damned Gu God Sect, whose leaders for generations have all been the most powerful in the world, yet they all hide in this remote and impoverished place. They are simply incredibly foolish!

So many Miao people, so many Gu Dao masters—they could easily muster an army to sweep across the world, yet successive leaders have neglected such excellent conditions, choosing instead to die in this Miao region. It's a complete waste of talent!

Qin Xiu said, "You're insane! You're absolutely insane! The Central Plains are a vast and resource-rich land, teeming with talented people and countless masters. You'll ruin the Miao region, you'll ruin all of us Miao people!"

"What do you know?" Wu Tongtian said, "I've already made plans. That woman, Mu Jianjia, has fallen under my spell. It won't be long before I can control the Gu God Sect."

When that time comes, controlling the Gu God Sect will be equivalent to controlling the faith of all Miao people. I can then command the thirty-two villages of Miao territory as the Miao King, control the martial arts world of Qingyun and Hongzhou, directly break through the Hanyue Sect, unify the martial arts world of Qingyun and Hongzhou, and then, based on the martial arts world of the three states, gradually take over all the lands of these three states.

The great empire is already in decline, showing signs of collapse. It only awaits a catalyst to plunge the world into chaos. At that time, with control of three provinces and my unparalleled martial arts, I can easily overthrow the dynasty, ascend the throne, and become the first Miao emperor in history!

Qin Xiu said coldly, "You're simply daydreaming. The sect leader's cultivation is unfathomable; it's impossible for him to be controlled by your bewitching techniques. Gu Guanqi, the martial arts alliance leader of Qingyun and Erzhou, is also at the pinnacle of the Tongxuan realm. You think you can control him? That's just wishful thinking!"

Wu Tongtian said coldly, "The mind-control technique will definitely not work against Mu Jianjia directly, but I controlled Gong Yang to pass on the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill to Mu Jianjia before he died."

No one can resist the allure of the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill, especially with Mu Jianjia about to obtain the Nirvana Gu. And I've tampered with the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill; if she can't resist practicing it, she'll fall victim to it.

Now, she has been affected. Although I cannot directly control her due to her profound skill, I can influence her mind. She will become a martial arts fanatic and become increasingly obsessed with the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill. At that time, she will not be able to hinder me at all.

As for Gu Guanqi, if he had stayed obediently in Qingyun and Erzhou, I wouldn't have been able to do anything about him for the time being. But he was oblivious to his own mortality and actually came to Miaojiang on his own initiative.

When the time is right, I will personally take him down. At that time, I won't need to use any mind control techniques; I have a hundred ways to make him obey me and become my dog.

As for Mu Jianjia, she's obsessed with the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill. It won't be long before I make her relinquish her position as sect leader. Once she's no longer the leader, she'll just be a martial arts fanatic, and I have plenty of ways to take her into my household.

While speaking,

Wu Tongtian sat down next to Qin Xiu, slipped one hand inside her clothes, and said, "I eagerly await the day when you two beauties of Miao territory, the two most beautiful women in all of Miao, will be beneath me at the same time!"

Qin Xiu was immobilized by a special kind of internal energy, and could only let Wu Tongtian caress her body, saying, "A person who can't even control their lust dares to dream of dominating the martial world and changing dynasties!"

Wu Tongtian said, "I've aged so many years, and now that I've finally regained a youthful body, how can I not indulge myself a little?"

Qin Xiu's body began to react to the touch, but she did not want to make a sound, so she kept her mouth tightly shut and stopped speaking.

Wu Tongtian continued, "Do you know why I'm telling you so much?"

Qin Xiu looked at Wu Tongtian, her face flushed and her eyes full of doubt.

Wu Tongtian said, "Because I'm so frustrated! I'm so great, I'm going to achieve unparalleled feats, but unfortunately, I can only appear before the world as Wu Qingyuan. No one knows me, Wu Tongtian. I feel very uncomfortable, and I want to find someone to talk to!"

As he spoke, Wu Tongtian sighed softly and added, "However, it doesn't matter anyway. In the end, I'm the one who enjoys a harem of three thousand beauties and supreme power!"

Qin Xiu took a deep breath and asked, "Then... what about the real Wu Qingyuan?"

Wu Tongtian said, "He is buried in my grave."

"He's your son," Qin Xiu said.

Wu Tongtian said, "I've now regained my youth and am young and strong. Why would I lack sons? In the future, I can have as many sons as I want! You will give me children, Mu Jianjia will give me children, and even that little girl Lanlan can give me children!"

"I know your secret, why don't you kill me?" Qin Xiu said.

Wu Tongtian said, "Why would I kill you? I've already told you, I'm still looking forward to the day when you and Mu Jianjia are both pleasuring me. Mu Jianjia's skill is profound, and I can't control her in a short time, but with your skill, controlling you is easy, isn't it?"

Wu Tongtian gently pinched Qin Xiu's chin and said, "I really don't want to control you. A puppet without its own consciousness, who only obeys orders, loses much of its charm. It's just a pity that I actually revealed a flaw in you, you slut."

As he spoke, Wu Tongtian's gaze sharpened, his eyes locking onto Qin Xiu's. A faint gray mist appeared on his dark pupils, revealing the mental technique, the Bewitching Art.

His gaze, like invisible threads, pierced straight into Qin Xiu's eyes. Qin Xiu felt a sudden dizziness, her mind involuntarily drifting apart, her once clear consciousness shrouded in a thick fog.

In no time, Qin Xiu was completely controlled by the bewitching spell. She sat blankly in the chair. After a while, her eyes gradually cleared, and she put her hair up and knelt down in front of Wu Tongtian.

……

For the next two days, Gu Guanqi did not see Mu Jianjia again. It was Lanlan who came to find him and took him to wander around various parts of the Holy Mountain.

Gu Guanqi understood that the Miao King election conference was about to begin, and Mu Jianjia, as the leader of the Gu God Sect, was naturally very busy.

Gu Guanqi didn't take it to heart. After all, the so-called "love affair" was just his excuse, so that he could continue his blind dates smoothly after the news spread throughout the martial arts world.

He didn't really have any designs on Mu Jianjia; he was just going through the motions. Once the opportunity arose and the blind date ended, he could collect his reward.

Unfortunately, Mu Jianjia wasn't interested in him either.

The relationship between the two was more like a personal exchange of favors.

Gu Guanqi helped the Gu God Sect, and Mu Jianjia helped him cultivate; that's how it happened.

On the morning of the third day,

Gu Guanqi had just finished washing up when a disciple of the Gu God Sect arrived outside the courtyard, saying that he was on the orders of the sect leader to invite him to dine together.

Gu Guanqi immediately followed the disciple out of the stone courtyard.

The sacred mountain was shrouded in a thin layer of mist in the early morning, and dewdrops clung to the tips of the grass blades, shimmering in the morning light.

The stone steps of the temple were damp with night dew, and felt slightly wet underfoot. Gu Guanqi climbed the steps and followed the disciple to the backyard of the temple.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Mu Jianjia sitting in the main hall.

Mu Jianjia came out to greet him, saying with a hint of apology, "Alliance Leader Gu, I've been preoccupied with trivial matters these past two days and haven't been able to pay you a visit. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Master Mu, you flatter me." Gu Guanqi smiled slightly. "With the Miao King election just around the corner, you must be very busy. I am the one who has bothered you."

"You're too kind." Mu Jianjia extended her hand and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, please have a seat. I've already ordered the food to be prepared. I heard from Lanlan that Alliance Leader Gu is a master of chess, and I also enjoy playing chess quite a bit. If Alliance Leader Gu doesn't mind my poor chess skills, how about we play a game after dinner?"

Gu Guanqi waved his hand and said, "I only know the basics, I can only play a little bit. I'll ask Master Mu for guidance in a bit."

At this time,

The servants began serving the dishes, which were very plentiful and mostly Qingzhou-style.

The two then began to eat.

During the meal, the two talked, but Gu Guanqi could clearly sense that Mu Jianjia seemed a little absent-minded.

after that,

When playing chess

Mu Jianjia's preoccupied state became even more apparent, as she was often lost in thought.

After placing more than ten pieces in the second game, Gu Guanqi slowly put down his pieces, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said in a gentle tone, "Master Mu, let's end it here for today."

Mu Jianjia paused slightly, raised her head, and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, do you find the game boring?"

"No, that's not it." Gu Guanqi shook his head, his tone sincere. "I noticed that Master Mu seems preoccupied, as if he still has official business to attend to. I've disturbed you today; perhaps we can continue this game another day."

Mu Jianjia put down the chess piece in her hand, stood up and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, I am truly sorry. There are indeed still many matters in the sect that have not been properly handled, which has caused my mind to be somewhat disordered today. I hope you will forgive my negligence."

Gu Guanqi waved his hand: "Sect Leader Mu, you flatter me. The Miao King Election Conference is in two days, and there are many matters to attend to within the sect. However, Sect Leader Mu should also pay attention to balancing work and rest and relax appropriately."

"Okay, I'll be more careful."

The two exchanged a few more polite words.

Mu Jianjia personally got up and escorted Gu Guanqi to the palace gate.

Gu Guanqi turned around and walked down the stone steps.

The morning light spread out behind him, outlining his silhouette as a clean and crisp line, untouched by dust or the grime of the world.

Mu Jianjia stood at the palace gate, watching Gu Guanqi gradually disappear into the distance.

She only slowly withdrew her gaze when she saw Gu Guanqi's figure turn the corner at the end of the stone steps.

Then she turned around, walked quickly back to the backyard, entered the study, and the calm on her face vanished in an instant.

Her eyes darkened instantly, and she said to a guard beside her, "Go and summon the High Priest immediately."

Upon receiving the order, the guards immediately departed.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn,

Gou Liu, leaning on his cane, entered the study and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings, Master."

Mu Jianjia got up and walked to Gou Liu's side, slowly extending a finger to touch Gou Liu's forehead.

Gou Liu was slightly taken aback, but out of respect for the cult leader, she did not resist.

after awhile,

Mu Jianjia withdrew her hand and said, "High Priest, if I may be so bold, I need to confirm that you are not under mind control."

Gou Liu's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Master, what happened?"

Mu Jianjia said, "I might be being controlled by someone using mental magic."

"What?!" Gou Liu exclaimed in shock, "Master, what exactly happened?"

Mu Jianjia said, "I did something very illogical today. I actually neglected Gu Guanqi. This is not something I should do. I specially invited Gu Guanqi to have dinner and play chess together, but I was absent-minded the whole time."

Gou Liu said, "Could it be because you've been too busy and overworked these past few days?"

"No," Mu Jianjia said, "I was focused on cultivation at the time. I have always paid great attention to cultivation, but I value the Gu God Sect even more. Gu Guanqi has been kind to the Gu God Sect, and he is also the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingyun and Liangzhou. I should not have neglected him, both morally and logically."

And now, I'm doing something that goes against my principles; I'm placing such importance on cultivation—this is abnormal. It can only mean that I'm being mentally controlled, subconsciously driven to obsess over martial arts, completely immersed in it.

"This..." Gou Liu didn't quite understand, but trusting Mu Jianjia, she chose to believe him and asked, "Then, Master, how can I help you?"

Mu Jianjia said, "Since I am currently under mental control, what I say will definitely be irrational. Therefore, I must completely empty my mind now, and you must use your martial arts will to enter my sea of ​​consciousness and suppress my spirit. Then you can ask me questions, and I will be able to answer your questions rationally."

Otherwise, my subconscious will become fixated on these ideas, leading me to make irrational decisions without my even realizing it. I'll just think I'm being farsighted or that my ideas are insightful and accurate.

Gou Liu quickly said, "Master, this is too..."

Mu Jianjia interrupted Gou Liu and said, "I've already said that I'm not rational right now. This is the most rational state I can control. This state could very well be ruined by something you say. I don't know what I'll think then."

Without further hesitation, Gou Liu immediately circulated his inner energy and gently patted Mu Jianjia's forehead with his palm.

Mu Jianjia trembled, then quickly gathered her mental strength.

after awhile,

Gou Liu felt that he had suppressed Mu Jianjia's mental will, so he quickly asked, "Master, have you reached a bottleneck in your cultivation?"

"No," Mu Jianjia said, "When I was chasing Gong Yang, I obtained the Life and Death Zen Divine Skill from him, and then I couldn't resist the temptation of entering the Dao, so I chose to try to cultivate it."

The more I cultivate, the more obsessed I become with the Zen of Life and Death. A couple of days ago, I even swallowed the Nirvana Gu, which I had used to guard against an accident involving the Holy Mountain Gu Mother, all in order to cultivate the Zen of Life and Death.

Qin Xiu, the wife of the chieftain of Wuzhai, has come and clearly told me that she suspects Wu Qingyuan has been replaced. Such a major matter, yet I neglected it because I was preoccupied with cultivating the Zen of Life and Death, even thinking that dealing with those matters would only create unnecessary complications.

Gou Liu's expression changed slightly.

Many things are like this; a single thought, a tiny idea, can have immeasurable consequences.

As the saying goes, those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly.

Sometimes solving a mystery isn't complicated; it just depends on whether the person in charge can present the situation rationally.

"Master," Gou Liu said, "Now things are clear. There's something wrong with that manual on the Zen of Life and Death, and there's also a big problem with Wu Qingyuan, the new chieftain of Wuzhai."

"Hmm," Mu Jianjia said, "I'm starting to clear my mind now. Hold on a little longer, I need to completely remove the influence of that mental magic on my mind."

Gou Liu continued to circulate her spiritual power.

After a while, Mu Jianjia took a small step back, then turned around and walked to the table. She looked at the manual of the Zen of Life and Death on the table and struck out with her palm.

In an instant, the secret manual was pulverized into dust.

Mu Jianjia looked at Gou Liu and said, "Don't alert them. The conference will proceed as planned!"